05 People That YouTube Helped Send to Prison

YouTube has become the center of entertainment in the modern world. 30,000 hours of new video are posted to the site every hour of the day. With all this content, it's not hard to imagine that you'll get a mixed bag. There is some completely uninteresting nonsense. And then some bizarre videos land the people who threw them in jail.

1. The “Chick Bank Robber” Who Gloated Over her Crime in a Video

There are all kinds of people in the world and morals are by no means static. What one person feels comfortable doing may be downright annoying to another. It obviously doesn't work all the time, but we do what we can. So how does YouTube fit into this? Well, some people commit crimes and then brag about it online, like Hana Spata did in 2012.

When Sabata was 19, he robbed a bank, which in and of itself is never a good idea. This poor judgment was compounded when she came home and made a video of herself showing money and some drugs and explaining how she stole a car and then robbed a bank. The video was titled "Chuck Bank Robber". Now I'm rich, I can pay off my college aid and tomorrow I'm going shopping. Cut me out. I love Grande!"

As expected, once law enforcement saw the video, they were quickly arrested. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison, and although he was released once, it was annulled and reinstated.

2. The Boyfriend Shooter 

Prank and stunt videos appeared on YouTube a decade ago and for some time were some of the most popular videos. People play pranks on strangers and loved ones or engage in dangerous stunts, all in the name of more ideas. Some of them were simple and harmless, but over time these videos became more extreme and dangerous. Sometimes they make mistakes in a way that becomes fatal.

In 2018, Monalisa Perez and her boyfriend attempted a YouTube stunt that was supposed to mix danger with the incredible. Mona Lisa photographed an encyclopedia owned by Pedro Ruiz, on a vacant lot. He thought the book would be so thick that the bullet would stop.

According to Ruiz, the approach was if a . 50 caliber bullet could pass through a book. This was his first assignment for a new YouTube channel. And over Perez's objection, she eventually agreed to the ruse. When the camera recorded the action, he pulled the trigger. The bullet went through the book, hitting and killing Ruiz.

Perez was charged with second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 180 days in prison, a lighter sentence as a result of his apparent lack of intent.

3. A Couple Were Arrested for Hiding in Target

The things people are inspired to film and put on YouTube are more diverse than most of us might imagine. But in search of clicks and likes, people push the envelope and do some questionable things. That's what happened when Charlotte Fisher and Johnson LaRose thought it would be OK to hide out after Target closed, and then filmed their nighttime adventure inside.

On the other hand, you can see how this could be an interesting hypothesis at least. Two people are trapped in a department store overnight. On the one hand, this is also a violation. The couple said they expected there would be a fine, which means they thought it was illegal. Instead, it was criminal charges and a possible seven-year prison sentence.

The official charge is also criminal interference and conspiracy. They are also forbidden to return to Target. The video is still on YouTube and the couple has since gained thousands of followers.

4. YouTuber Edited Videos of Singing to Children and Got a Felony Charge

In one of the worst cautionary tales of what makes a joke a crime, Evan Emory received international press thanks to his terrible decision to attempt a joke.

The man from Michigan had arranged to go to a class at a local school to entertain the children by singing a song. All of the children were in first grade, and the head teacher described the song as "innocent". It was the same then. But then things changed.

Emory was planning a prank. What he did was take a video of the kids reacting to his innocent song and then edited it. The new video turns an innocent song into a sexually explicit and offensive song. Although the children had never heard the offensive version, the parents were furious and furious. And you can imagine if you saw your 6-year-old in a YouTube video who seemed to hear something offensive.

Emory was charged with producing child sexual abuse material, which is a felony. He was facing up to 20 years. Although he was found guilty, he was sentenced to 60 days in prison and 200 hours of community service.

5. YouTuber Posted a Video of his Pot Garden 

These days, marijuana use is becoming more common. It is legal in 18 states and has not been criminalized in more than a dozen other countries. Odds are, it's only a matter of time until alcohol and cigarettes are legalized and regulated. But it didn't exist yet, and it wasn't until 2013 when William Bradley showed off his hay crop on YouTube.

Bradley was from Connecticut and was suffering from terminal cancer. He made a video of himself standing among several large marijuana plants which prompted the police to come to his house and check things out. Once there, they found not only marijuana, but also oxycodone and cocaine.

It's possible the police would never find Bradley, even with his face, but this guy made it look so easy. Not only has he been seen with drugs, but he took the time to provide his name and even a mailbox where donations could be sent so he could share our weed with others.